How Singapore got a modern aerospace park with ‘old world charm’ in Seletar

In the early 2000s, EDB believed the time was right to develop Seletar Air Base. This would be a visible symbol of Singapore’s commitment to the aerospace industry, which was recovering from the throes of 9/11 and the 2003 SARS. 

EDB found a like-minded partner in JTC; and in time, the rest of Government was convinced. Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) would operate Seletar Airport (now managed by Changi Airport Group¹); and JTC would develop the surrounding land for industry.

Seletar Aerospace Park

On 10 May 2006, EDB-JTC announced the development of Seletar Aerospace Park. But as much as the news was exciting, it was clear developing Seletar would not be a walk in the park. By that time, Seletar Air Base was in dire need of extensive overhaul. Roads were narrow and littered with potholes, and the utilities dated back to colonial days. Even the Singapore Armed Forces had to be called in on occasion to clear bomb relics uncovered on site. 

To potential investors, we simply maintained our game faces and described Seletar as having “old world charm”. 

Discussions on Seletar’s development easily involved over 50 public service officers across multiple agencies at a time. Many parties had to be involved as there was keen public interest to preserve the area’s heritage and greenery, and we had decided for the new estate to feature a mix of modernity and conservation. 

Agencies had serious conversations not just on paving fresh roads and constructing new utilities, but also on preserving and integrating the colonial black and white bungalows, heritage trees, as well flora and fauna. Prior to Seletar, the nexus between conservation and industrial estate development had been limited, so I considered this integrated development approach pioneering for its time.

The development of Seletar was complex, and I liken it to a running 100+ episode drama. But thankfully, the Seletar community collaborated closely with Government agencies to make things work. Understanding was sought from neighbouring residents; and incumbent companies including Jet Aviation, Fokker Services, and Hawker Pacific agreed to relocate from Seletar East Camp to West Camp. ST Aerospace added to the vote of confidence by committing to expand its operations at the new Seletar Aerospace Park. 

We also had new investments from global engine companies Pratt & Whitney and Rolls-Royce in sight. Pratt & Whitney had plans for a new component repair facility, and Rolls-Royce was considering Singapore for its first Trent engine Assembly & Test Unit in Asia.

In 2007, Rolls-Royce decided on Seletar, and we were over the moon. This project would be a shot in the arm for our new industrial estate and create new, exciting jobs for Singaporeans. Pratt & Whitney also agreed to invest.

“Never-say-die”

In 2008, Pratt & Whitney and Rolls-Royce announced plans to invest in Seletar Aerospace Park during the inaugural Singapore Airshow² (which had replaced Asian Aerospace). But every good drama must have its twists and turns. Not long after the companies broke ground, the 2008 Global Financial Crisis struck, and both projects were put on hold. 

Frankly, we had mixed feelings – We wanted to get together, but the timing was not right; and whilst we were disappointed with the delay, we were also (secretly) happy to have some breathing room to address the many development challenges at Seletar.

As our partner agencies pressed on with infrastructure development, EDB continued making overtures to both companies. In 2010, Rolls-Royce broke ground for a second time in Seletar. Not just for an Assembly & Test Unit, but for an entire Campus. 

The S$700mil Rolls-Royce Seletar Campus comprised an Assembly & Test Unit, a Wide Chord Fan Blade manufacturing facility, an Advanced Technology Centre, and a Regional Training Centre. This was the single largest investment by an aerospace company in Singapore, and a watershed moment for our industry as it signaled the advent of leading edge aerospace manufacturing in Singapore.

Then the natural question came – what’s next? Up till that point, our headway with Pratt & Whitney was limited after it put a pin in its Seletar project. We decided to re-engage Pratt & Whitney and its parent United Technologies Corporation (UTC, now RTX Corporation) in earnest. This was no easy courtship; but eventually, we found a zone of convergence.

In 2012, Pratt & Whitney ground-broke its first facility in Seletar Aerospace Park for engine component repairs. This was followed by another ground-breaking in 2013 for an engine component manufacturing facility. The Pratt & Whitney Seletar Campus now comprises its regional headquarters, component repair, fan blade manufacturing and engineering service centre.

I’d like to think it was some of this relentless “never-say-die” EDB spirit that eventually led to the establishment of the Airbus Seletar Campus which houses the company’s regional headquarters, parts distribution centre, as well its largest flight crew training facility in the world; as well as Bombardier’s Singapore Service Centre which houses its regional headquarters, engineering and component repair functions, as well as its largest aircraft maintenance facility in the Asia Pacific region. 

Other investments anchored in time included American aircraft OEM Textron’s regional service centre for Bell Helicopters and Cessna Aircraft (2012), British Tier 1 aero-engine supplier RLC Engineering’s fan panel manufacturing facility (2014), French aero-engine OEM Safran’s regional headquarters and MRO facility for helicopter engines (2016), and American aero-engine OEM GE Aviation’s (now GE Aerospace) engine component manufacturing facility (2018).

Aero-Dynamism

By 2019, industry output reached S$12.9bil and we were on an upward trajectory till COVID-19 presented another twist. The global aerospace industry was battered. Travel restrictions to contain the pandemic led to a sharp fall in passenger movements. With fleets grounded, demand for aircraft maintenance and repairs tanked. And as airlines put off new aircraft deliveries, manufacturing activities slowed. 

Between 2019 and 2020, our industry’s output dropped by over 20 per cent. With bottomlines hit, companies were compelled to re-examine their global footprint. Activities we had taken years to build were at risk of being lost overnight. Our greatest concern was for our aerospace workforce, and we were intent on retaining as much talent as possible. 

EDB secured agreement from the Ministries to support the aerospace industry with the highest tier of support under the Enhanced Jobs Support Scheme; Skillsfuture Singapore rolled out the Enhanced Training Support Package; Workforce Development Agency supported companies to reskill their workers and take on new roles where there remained bright spots such as passenger-to-freighter conversions; industrial landlord JTC deferred rentals; whilst NTUC and its unions facilitated temporary redeployment of excess workers.

The Association of Aerospace Industries (Singapore) played a valuable role by maintaining pulse on the ground and organizing dialogues for Government agencies and unions to engage companies and explain the support schemes available. This enabled companies to minimise (and even cancel) plans to furlough workers. 

Notwithstanding, we took some hits – Rolls-Royce, for instance decided it would make more sense to consolidate its engine assembly & test activities back in Derby. Still, the schemes we rolled out enabled the company to preserve a substantive core in Singapore and it agreed to consolidate its global wide chord fan blade manufacturing in Singapore.  

In 2022, Singapore made the decision to proceed with the biennial Singapore Airshow despite the evolving COVID-19 situation. Singapore Airshow was already amongst the top 3 global airshows in the world, and we were keen to send a strong message to the global aerospace community that Singapore remained committed to the industry. With the right safeguards in place, we were confident we could ride out the pandemic and stay open for business. Our message was well received, and top executives around the world convened in Singapore.

Forward Singapore

In every crisis, there is opportunity. And in true Singapore spirit, we made the best out of the pandemic. We kept the lights on and our ports running. We trained our workers, preserved talent and pre-positioned for the future.

This enabled us to respond quickly while travel restrictions eased and demand for air travel surged – Singapore’s industry output has since exceeded pre-COVID levels, and companies are now actively making new investments and accelerating recruitment.

More critically, the crisis pulled our aerospace community together. Businesses know they can count on us, not just during the good times, but through challenging ones too. The journey ahead remains long, but in this community, we don’t walk alone.

¹ CAG was formed in 2008 as part of Changi Airport’s corporatisation. It is a wholly owned subsidiary under the purview of the Ministry of Finance.

² Up till 2006, Singapore’s biennial aerospace exhibition was organised as Asian Aerospace under the partnership between Singapore Technologies (formerly, SAI) and Reed Exhibitions (formerly, Cahners). However, there was a need to redevelop the Changi Exhibition Centre, and when terms could not be reached with the event organiser, we eventually had to part ways with Asian Aerospace. A new entity, Changi International Events (now known as Experia Events) was established to organise the biennial airshow in Singapore, co-owned by ST Engineering, CAAS, Changi Airport Group (CAG), Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) and EDB Investments (EDBi). Singapore Airshow is now the 3rd largest airshow in the world today.